501 



ALAUDA. LARK. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum subc ylindricum,ma- 

 gis minusve crassum ; basi 

 pennis minimis recumben- 

 tibus tectum. 



Lingua bifid a. 



Pedes simplices, digitis tribus 

 anticis, uno postico. 



Unguis posticus rectior, di- 

 gito longior. 



Beak subcylindrical, more or 

 less thickened ; covered 

 with small recumbent fea- 

 thers at the base. 



Tongue cloven at the tip. 



Feet simple, with three toes 

 before, and one behind. 



Hinder claw straight, and 

 longer than the toe. 



JL^ARKS are distinguished from all other birds 

 by the superior length of their hinder claws, which, 

 in some of the species, are upwards of an inch in 

 length, and totally incapacitates them from perch- 

 ing on trees ; consequently, they rest on the 

 ground, where they all place their nests : some 

 few that have shorter claws perch upon trees, but 

 only on the larger branches. From the situation 

 of their nests they are greatly exposed to the at- 

 tacks of predaceous animals of the weazel kind, 

 &c. which destroy great numbers of the eggs and 

 young: the Cuckow also frequently deposits its 

 eggs in them. 



These are the only birds that sing during flight, 



